Triumph Daytona 660 Evaluate

Check by Rennie Scaysbrook

The supersport class is useless. Lengthy dwell the supersport class! That is likely to be a barely melodramatic solution to begin an article, however there’s a component of fact in it.

The bikes that had been classed as supersport, are being phased out by producers, or morphing into mainly something underneath 1000cc (Ducati Panigale V2, Triumph Road Triple 765 RS, Suzuki GSX-R750, Kawasaki ZX-6R 636), which is an entire new class of motorcycle. Kind of.

Just like the film character, Derek Zoolander, the twin-cylinder mid-capacity class is “so scorching proper now”, all of the world’s producers try to get the brand new lady’s consideration. It’s so scorching it may possibly’t bear to have one other two-potter within the ranks, so thank God Triumph has come into the sport with the one three-cylinder motor within the class thus far.

The 2025 Triumph Daytona 660, additionally accessible in a lowered energy LAMS mannequin, marks a major departure in Triumph’s strategy to the sportsbike phase.

In keeping with Triumph’s Chief Product Officer, Steve Sargent, “Supersport bikes of the final 15 years have primarily priced themselves out of relevance. The price of these bikes was getting nearer and nearer to these of litre bikes, however with out the efficiency to again them up. We’ve taken a distinct strategy with the brand new 660 in that we’re specializing in on a regular basis street-performance however one which’s financially accessible to most individuals.”

For these attuned to subtleties, there are a few underlying messages right here. Riders anticipating a conventional Daytona supersport expertise would possibly have to readjust their expectations. The emphasis on affordability, as said by Sargent, implies just a few design compromises have been made, which we’ll get into shortly.

The brand new Daytona 660 attracts its design ethos from Triumph’s mid-size bare, the Trident 660, and it steps into the ring alongside contenders just like the Yamaha YZF-R7 and the Aprilia RS 660.

Nonetheless, in comparison with the Trident, the Daytona has a claimed 17 per cent improve in energy and 9 per cent extra torque. The Triumph boasts a sturdy 69 kW at 12,250 rpm and 69N m of torque at 9250 rpm for the Daytona, with a formidable 80 per cent of that torque accessible at 3125 rpm.

The LAMS mannequin involves the sport with 42 kW and 62 Nm of torque, with its redline lowered to 6750 rpm. To attain these figures, Triumph has applied a number of key upgrades to the 660cc three-cylinder in-line engine.

These embody a redesigned, forward-mounted consumption, three new 44 mm throttle our bodies (the Trident solely runs a single 38 mm unit), an up to date cylinder head, an exhaust camshaft with longer raise and better length, revised pistons, a distinct crankshaft, and bearings.

Moreover, the six-speed gearbox has undergone adjustments, with first and second gears now taller whereas third, fourth, fifth, and sixth gears are shorter to facilitate attending to the highest pace sooner.

Given these motor enhancements, the Daytona 660 proves to be an exhilarating companion on twisty roads. Whereas the precise horsepower output might hover across the early 80s on the wheel, reasonably than the 93 hp Triumph says the motor produces, the three-cylinder engine delivers such spectacular efficiency, you swiftly grow to be engrossed within the experience. So, overlook the precise numbers and simply relish the enjoyment of wringing the life out of the little three-pot.

The Daytona 660 gives three ECU modes, Sport, Street, and Rain, and though I briefly performed round in Rain mode to examine its impact on energy supply (trace: it considerably neuters the bike), I feel most riders will discover themselves spending all their time in both Sport and Street modes.

Street mode is sufficient for on a regular basis using situations, however Sport mode is the place the true enjoyable is at. Sport mode has a barely jerky throttle response, nevertheless it unleashes the total potential of the triple, which, with simply over 80 real-world rear-tyre horsepower, is greater than enough for many using conditions.

Although it’s the smallest triple within the Triumph vary, the Daytona 660 delivers spectacular top-end energy. The motor eagerly builds revs shortly by way of the vary, and like efficiency engine, the extra you rev it, the higher it goes.

Nonetheless, this efficiency sadly isn’t mirrored within the suspension — a subject we’ll contact on shortly.

Though the Daytona lacks a standard-fitment quick-shifter, the gearbox is so good on the Daytona 660 it hardly requires one. Shifting gears with the inventory Triumph gearbox is a seamless affair — simply be good by gently rolling the wrist ahead to take the load off the gearbox, snick the subsequent gear and off you go. No clutch required.

The harmonious interaction between the engine and gearbox enhances the general using expertise, however what in regards to the chassis? Nicely, it’s a case of potential, but room for enchancment.

You (and I) each want to recollect the one key phrase within the chassis: Worth. Given the 660 suggestions the monetary scales at $14,790, you’ll be able to’t anticipate race-bred springers. The suspension consists of unadjustable 41 mm Showa Large Piston Fork models providing 110 mm of wheel journey, whereas the rear runs a Showa RSU with preload adjustment solely and 130 mm of wheel journey.

At common street speeds, the Daytona’s suspension can be as much as most duties you throw at it. Metropolis cruising by way of to the twisties in Alacante, Spain, confirmed a motorcycle completely able to deflecting the crappy street surfaces with out upsetting the chassis an excessive amount of. At this pace, the experience is totally nice.

Triumph is betting (and it’s most likely proper), that is the place the Daytona will largely be ridden, by riders who’re early within the their using profession, and who are usually not as demanding when it comes to suspension tech.

Up the tempo a bit and the Daytona nonetheless holds its personal, providing agile steering and braking efficiency, however once you’re attempting to have a little bit of sporty enjoyable, you’ll attain the boundaries of the suspension fairly shortly.

Throughout our final half of the day after the picture shoot, we actually began to screw it on, and the fork quickly reached its restrict, diving to the underside of the stroke and rebounding far too shortly, thus taking the load off the entrance Michelin Energy 6 tyre and making the front-end a bit slippery. Subsequently, the sooner I went, and the more durable I rode the Daytona, the extra it could protest (a minimum of when it comes to chassis). The engine, as talked about, cherished thrashing.

It was throughout these…um, spirited runs again to our Spanish HQ after I have to remind myself of the price-point the Daytona sits at, and thus just a few tough edges might be forgiven.

Total, the Daytona 660’s chassis holds up adequately to most using conditions you’ll end up in, albeit with a sure softness. Riders weighing underneath 85 kg, which sadly isn’t a bunch I can declare membership in, are unlikely to come across many points.

If I had been to go for a Daytona 660, the very very first thing I’d do is put in a suspension package tailor-made for the 660. As Triumph’s most popular race-development workforce, Peter Hickman Racing has labored up an array of aftermarket parts, equivalent to race bodywork, a brand new subframe, a brand new exhaust, race seat, rearsets, clip-ons, race ECU, and the accompanying wiring loom.

Whereas a few of these upgrades is likely to be tempting (and straight-up required in the event you’re going racing with the 660), what I actually need out of the 660 is a extra compliant (and adjustable) suspension package deal, in order that’s primary on my want listing, thanks, Hicky.

The rider sits barely ahead from centre however to not the extent of placing undue stress on the wrists, plus, you get the added bonus of taking a little bit of weight off the underside of your backbone. The ergonomics lend themselves properly to prolonged journeys, with handlebars mounted above the triple clamps, and the Daytona boasts a particular aesthetic that units it aside from class competitor bikes just like the R7, which is an old-school clip-on racer for the street.

I’m not terribly enamoured with the sprint on the 660. It’s the identical as on the Trident, and though it provides me all the data I’m ever going to wish, once you’ve bought the solar behind you it’s rattling close to unimaginable to learn. There are a variety of various configurations you’ll be able to run on the sprint, so you can also make issues like gear place or speedo greater than the remainder, however in comparison with the unit on one thing like a Road Triple (sure, I get it, value and all), the sprint seems to be a bit… underdone.

The Triumph Daytona 660 is a strong package deal, however to totally harness its potential, you’re going to wish to delve into the suspension and make it a match for the prowess of its engine. Whereas the Yamaha YZF-R7 emerges as a purebred sportsbike in Yamaha’s true racebike fashion, the Daytona goals to convey a brand new versatility to the market in the identical trend because the Suzuki GSX-8R — half sportbike, half streetbike, half commuter, and half… no matter you want.

In actual Again to The Future fashion, this ethos is just about what the unique supersport bikes of the Nineteen Eighties tried to realize — bikes able to taking over numerous roles and doing properly in all of them. It’s extremely doubtless we’ll see extra fashions following this pattern within the years forward, presumably even in bigger capacities (Triumph’s form of, type of, already executed this with the Road Triple 1200 RR that got here out just a few years in the past).

The 2025 Triumph Daytona 660 stands as base bike, however I’d like to get my arms on one with some respectable suspension to see what it may possibly actually do when the street will get twisty.

Head to the Triumph Bikes Australia web site for extra data or to search out your native Triumph dealership.

2024 Triumph Daytona 660 Specs